• In The News
  • 2003-Now
  • 1998-2002
• Statistics
  • Cup
  • Busch
  • IROC
  • Track wins
• Track performance

• Team Info
  • #24 roster
  • Hendrick teammates
  • HMS statistics
• Race Info
  • Race schedule
  • Next race
• Image Galleries
• Paint Schemes
• About Jeff
  • Bio
  • The 411
  • Sponsors
  • Up close

• All-time wins list
• Feature stories
• Editorials
• Links
• FAQ
• Making A Difference
  • Online charity drives
  • Jeff Gordon Foundation
• In Memory
  • David Poole
  • Russ Harris
  • Bill Simmerman
• Advertising Info

TRACY THOMPSON MEMORIAL FUNDRAISER: DONATION LINK

In memory of Tracy Thompson
1975-2011

Tracy Thompson passed away on November 29 at the age of 36. She overcame so many obstacles from birth and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was loved by her family in North Carolina and Texas, and by thousands of

"Sorry to hear of the passing of Tracy Thompson. She was a huge fan & always showed her support for me & Ingrid. She will be missed" - Jeff Gordon

Jeff Gordon fans on both Twitter and Facebook.

Tracy grew up in West Texas where "the sun sets slow and the stars shine bright." At 16, she moved to North Carolina where she discovered the joy of NASCAR racing and the driver of the #24 Chevrolet. Gordon scored his career-defining Brickyard 400 victory just weeks after Tracy's high school graduation. Gordon's first championship season came in 1995, and he followed that up with titles in 1997, 1998, and 2001.

However, it's been more than a decade since his last championship. The bandwagon fans who jumped on board in the 1990's have long since departed. The diehard fans remain. You already know who they are. They're the ones who pray for the #24 during church services every Sunday morning, and then race home hoping to see Gordon raise a Pepsi bottle in Victory Lane. They're the ones who wear the #24 colors proudly no matter where Jeff finished in the last race.

"She loved to laugh. Would often laugh til she cried. She never met a stranger" - Tracy's cousin Jessica

Tracy Thompson was a part of every single diehard fan. She was you; she was all of us. She was the one who watched every lap on Sunday afternoon. No matter the day's results, she knew Jeff and the #24 did their best. And that was good enough for her. To Tracy and thousands of others, Jeff is not just a race car driver on Sunday afternoons. He's a shining light that brightens even the darkest day. He provides a sense of community beyond your family and closest friends in town. The term "hero" is often overstated. Heroes are people who inspire us all to pursue our dreams, to do our best, and to give from our hearts.

"You have no idea how much Jeff meant to her. Now she can run and do things she never had a chance to do. Maybe even sit in Jeff's car and crank it up. A very sweet young lady, now in God's hands. An angel that will always be with us" - Tracy's aunt Joan

When Tracy spotted the #24 car on the track, she wasn't just seeing a race car driver turning laps. She was watching her hero.

Tracy loved chatting with other fans on Twitter and Facebook. If you were friends with Tracy, you know how she adored Jeff, his wife Ingrid, and their kids. One of her favorite people to chat with on Twitter was Ingrid. They chatted about Halloween, TV shows, Ella's playhouse, dinner recipes, birthday parties -- and Tracy's health issues as 2011 progressed. I can only imagine how Tracy's face lit up when she received a reply from Ingrid. No matter how bad of a day she may have been having with her health, the reply from her favorite driver's wife surely eased her pain for a little while. I suppose that's the power of social media. It connects us to the world and to each other. And Tracy was a big part of that world for Gordon fans.

"When you went to see Tracy you would always be greeted with a big smile and a positive attitude about life. You would always leave with the lifted spirit she was able to transfer to you. The only times Tracy would get upset was when you messed with her computers or Jeff Gordon. We love you Tracy and you will be missed by all" - Julian Minshew

It would have been incredibly special to have a #24 showcar in Wilson, N.C. for her funeral. But Tracy didn't need the #24 showcar at her funeral to illustrate that she was the greatest (and most upbeat) Jeff Gordon fan in the world. Her words and actions already have.

Meteors streak across the night sky in a breathtaking trail of light. Although the lifespan of a meteor is short, it leaves an indelible mark on all who witness its path across the canvas of planets and stars. A new shining star arrived on November 29.

My sincere thanks to Tracy's family for their blessing on the memorial fundraising effort to benefit the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation. Though she is no longer with us, the charity fundraiser for the JGCF will ensure that her positive impact will continue to be felt.